Cover retaining means



R O B A G L COVER RETAINING MEANS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 INVENTOR [021w Ealor I II Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in cover-retaining means for receptacles, and more particularly butter tubs, round wooden boxes, cases and the like. The primary object of the invention is to provide a cover-retaining means of simple, inexpensive construction which will securely afiix the cover in position on the receptacle to effectively prevent the admission of dirt and dust to the interior thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of this characterwhich, while firmly securing the cover in position, nevertheless readily permits the ready removal of the cover for inspection of the contents of the receptacle; which has no protruding parts to cut or otherwise damage the hands when the receptacle is being handled, and which can be applied without the use of special tools or intricate devices.

More particularly, the invention comprises a loop which is contracted about an annular coverretaining ring by the movement of a plate-like loop-contracting member which has means for affixing it securely, yet removably, to the body of the receptacle after the loop has been contracted.

These and other results hereinafter set forth are attained by the constructions more particularly pointed out in the following specification and claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the upper end of a receptacle, such as a butter tub, with the improved cover-retaining means in position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of part of the tub and cover-retaining means, showing the loop-contracting device in its inoperative position; Fig. 3 is a view of similar parts, showing the cover-retaining means in its operative position, with the loop contracted; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-.-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a view showing the supplemental fastening member or hinge; Figs. '7 and 8 show a modified form of loop-contracting member in its inoperative and operative positions respectively; and Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View through the structure of Figs. 7 and 8.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, I indicates the body of a round or substantially cylindrical or slightly conical receptacle, such as a wooden butter tub of conventional form. The open top of such tub is usually covered or closed by a disk-shaped wooden cover or lid II which has its marginal edge portion resting on and supported by the upper edge of the body of the tub. At I2 is shown an annular retaining ring split at 40 and composed of a horizontally. disposed flange I3 which overlies the top of the marginal edge portion of the cover or lid I I, and an integral, downwardly extending skirt I4 having its lower edge curled or rolled up at I5 to provide an annular passage containing a split wire loop I6. The hooked ends I! of the loop protrude out of the end of the passage I5 and 10 project through apertures or holes I8, two of which are provided near one end of an elongated,

metal, loopecontracting plate I9. The opposite end of the plate I9 is bent laterally and sharpened or pointed to form prongs or teeth 20 which are used to fasten the plate I9 to the body ID of the receptacle when the plate is moved to its position of loop-contraction as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

To fasten the cover in position, it is first placed I on top of the receptacle and the retaining ring placed in position over the cover with its flange I3 overlying the upper face of the marginal edge portion of the cover, and its skirt I4 extending down on the side of the receptacle. A portion of the passage I5, at a point diametrically opposite to the ends I! of the loop I6, is cut away to expose a part of the loop and from this exposed portion of the loop is a dependent fastener 2| which may consist of a short length of wire having an inwardly bent prong 22 on its lower end, or a sheet metal fastener of similar shape and construction. This fastener has its prong 22 driven into the body of the receptacle by a blow from a hammer or similar tool. The loop-contracting plate I9,

now in its inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, is

rotated in a clockwise direction or to the left of Fig. 2, until its pronged end is downwardly disposed as shown in Fig. 3. This rotative movement causes the loop I B to be contracted, with the ends thereof overlapping as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Contraction of loop I6 draws the ring I2 tightly about the upper end of the receptacle, and since the ring is split at 40, its ends can overlap to any required degree, and additionally since the ring is of relatively thin and ductilemetal, it 4.5

readily conforms to the slightly sloping sides of the receptacle so that the cover is held tightly on the top of the receptacle. When plate I9 has been so moved to contract the loop IE, it is retained in such position of loop-contraction by having its prongs 20 driven into the side of the receptacle by a hammerblow.

To permit the cover of the receptacle to be raised for inspection, a tool is inserted between the plate I9 and the face of the receptacle, and

tions.

the plate is pried outwardly to force the prongs 28 out of the body of the receptacle and thereby free the plate. The plate is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction to the position substantially shown in Fig. 2. This enables the loop 16 to spread open so that the ring l2 and parts carried thereby can be raised and the cover lifted. The cover and ring can swing together on the fastening member 2| as a hinge. When it is desired to completely remove the cover, the fastening member 2| is also pried loose and the cover, ring and parts carried by it can be immediately removed.

in the embodiment of Fig. 7, the loop-contracting plate 30 has a triangular slot 3|, the inclined sides 32 thereof acta ing as cam surfaces to draw the hooked ends I! of the loop it toward one another and thereby contract the loop. The lower end of the plate 38 is provided with inwardly projecting prongs or teeth 33. At its upper end, the plate as has a laterally bent part 3i which overlies the horizontal flange l3 of the ring l2 and extends beyond the inner edge of the flange to project over a part of the cover H. The inner end of the laterally extending part 34 is provided with downwardly extending prongs or teeth 35 which are driven into the cover when the plate is forced home to its position of maximum loop-contraction. The inoperative position of the plate 38 is shown in Fig. '7 where it will be seen that the hooked ends I! of loop l6 are located at the lower and wider end of the slot 3|. The plate 30 is driven downwardly by a blow on top of the lateral part 34 and as the slot 3| decreases in width toward its upper end, the inclined edges 32 of said slot, engaging the hooked ends ll of the loop, draw these ends together, thereby contracting the loop as well as the ring l2, causing the ends of the ring to overlap, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. When the plate 39 is driven downwardly, its prongs or teeth 35 will penetrate the cover II and when the plate reaches the limit of its downward movement, the teeth 33 on the lower end of said plate are, by a blow on the outer face of the plate at its lower end, caused to'be driven into the body of the receptacle.

With this arrangement, it will be seen that the plate 33 is held from movement in two direc- That is to say, the teeth 33 prevent upward movement of the plate, while the teeth 35 prevent lateral movement of the plate which, if permitted, might tend to free teeth 35 from engagement with the receptacle.

With both embodiments of the invention, the retaining ring l2 is very tightly drawn about the receptacle and cover .by contraction of the wire loop, and any upward movement of the ring is prevented by the loop-contracting plates which are firmly held down by the teeth formed on their lower end. In place of such teeth, the plates l9 and 30 may be perforated as indicated in dotted lines at Al in Fig. 3, so that nails or other fastening means can be used to secure the plate to the tub. The device presents no projecting parts or sharp edges. likely to cut the hands in handling the tub, and a very firm, secure cover-retaining means results.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the character: described comprising, a receptacle having a removable cover, a retaining ring extending around the receptacle and projecting over the cover, a loop for contracting said retaining ring extending around said receptacle, a movable member engaging the the invention shown in ends of the loop and movable to draw the ends of said loop toward one another and thereby contract the loop, said member having means for securing it to the body of the receptacle when it has been moved to its-position of loop-contraction.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle having a removable cover, a

retaining ring extending around the receptacle and projecting over the cover, said ring having an annular passage, a loop located in said passage and having its ends projecting out of the same, an apertured plate member into which the ends of the loop project, said plate member being movable to draw the ends of the loop toward one another and thereby contract the loop, and prongs formed on said plate member for securing it to the body of the receptacle when the member has been moved to its position of loopcontraction.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle having a removable cover, a split retaining ring extending around the receptacle and over the cover, a split loop held by said ring for contracting said ring, armovable plate engaging the ends of the loop and capable of rotary movement to draw the ends of said loop toward one another and thereby contract the loop, said member having means whereby it may be secured to the body of the receptacle when it has been rotated to its position of loop-contraction.

4. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle having a removable cover, a retaining ring extending around the receptacle and having a flange projecting over the marginal edge portion of the cover, said ring having an annular passage extending about its lower edge, a loop located in said passage, said loop being split and having it ends projecting out of the passage, an apertured plate member into which the ends of the loop project, said plate member being movable to draw the ends of the loop toward one another and thereby contract the loop, and prongs formed on one end of said member by which the same is attached to the body of the receptacle when the plate member is moved to its position of loop-contraction.

5. A device of the character described comprising, a retaining ring fitting over the cover of a receptacle, a loop held by the retaining ring and adapted for contraction to draw the ring about the cover to thereby hold the same on a receptacle, the loop having projecting, normally spaced, ends, a plate having spaced holes through which the projecting ends of the loop extend,said plate being capable of rotary movement to draw the ends of the loop together to a position of overlap and thereby contract the loop and ring engaged thereby, and fastening means spaced from the holes for securing the plate to the body of the receptacle when the plate is in a position of loopcontraction.

6. A device of the character described comprising, a retaining ring fitted over the cover of a receptacle, a loop held by the retaining ring and 2,016,324 one another to thereby contract the loop, and I fastening means for attaching the plate to the receptacle.

7. A device of the character described comprising, a retaining ring fitted over the cover of a receptacle, a loop held by the retaining ring and adapted for contraction to draw the ring about the cover to thereby hold the same on a receptacle, the loop having spaced ends, a plate having a slot wider at one of its ends than at the other and adapted for sliding movement relative to the loop, the ends of said loop projecting into the slot and engaging the angular sides of said slot so that when the plate is moved, the sides of the slot will draw the ends of the loop toward one another to thereby contract the loop, and fastening means at the opposite ends of the plate for attaching the plate to the cover and to the body of the receptacle.

8. A device of the character described comprising, a retaining ring fitted over the cover of a receptacle, a loop engaging the retaining ring and adapted to be contracted to draw the ring about the cover to thereby hold the same on a receptacle, the loop having spaced ends, a plate having a slot with converging sides, the ends of the loop extending into the slot and engaging the sides thereof so that when the plate is moved in one direction the sides of the slot will draw the ends of the loop toward one another to thereby contract the loop and retaining ring engaged thereby, the plate having a laterally extending part on its upper end overlying the cover, fastening means for attaching said laterally extending part to the cover, and fastening means located below the slot for attaching the lower end of the plate to the body of the receptacle.

LOUIS GABOR. 

